L Hern is experienced enough to get out of trouble and if he can’t do it then get rid of him. The only reason Hernandez is here is to give the bullpen a break if he can’t go at least 6 or 7 innings then he’s useless. 

I’m starting to think collars are getting a bit tight in Flushing and they better loosen up fast as the head to Philly this weekend.

 

Busy day as I drafted my 13 year old Babe Ruth team this morning and I’m very happy that I got to pick my top three prospects and now I’m dealing with a nasty head cold that’s sucking the energy out me. I was going to stay away from the computer but after a looking at few stories a few items caught my eye:

John Maine had a very shaky first inning but then settled in to pitch three very strong ones (0 BB 5K) and it looks like it’s not a matter of Bobby Parnell making th team as a reliever but he figures to a major player in the back end of the pen so says Warlord Jerry

Jeopardy Contestant “I’ll take FREE FALL for 100 Alex”

Alex Trebeck: “The Stock Market, Republican Party, Team USA

Jeopardy Contestant: “What is American institutions that are not worth shit”

Trebeck: “Correct”

I’ve got to do a little homework on RHP Fernando Nieve who was picked up by the Mets off waivers from the Astros. I know he was signed by the “Stros at 16 and is now 26 and is a year removed from Tommy John surgery. No risk- high reward pick up by the Mets at best he comes up mid season to bolster the pen worst case he’s filler for the Buffalo pen

I’m done. Time for a hit of Sudefed

 

Gotta love Tony Bernazard the man has a way with words, especially when it come to the Mets catching situation and bringing in Pudge Rodriguez:

Some of us wished we could have him (Rodriguez) with us, but the truth is that we have two catchers under contract,” Bernazard told El Nuevo Dia. “It’s not so easy to make a move right now to make it possible to have him with us.”

This goes more to Ramon Castro than to Brain Schneider as the word is the Mets feel that Castro is an underachieving lump of shit who finds excuse after excuse to not step up when he’s needed.

The Mets look to have taken a more tough love approach this spring to see how the players in the cross hairs would react. Gimp Castillo was the first as he was shopped around more than a ‘ho on the Hunts Point stroll. He has responded so far this spring with a better work ethic and attitude. Ryan Church was next to given a shove by Warlord Jerry and he has taken it and used it to his advantage.  Duaner Sanchez was the first casualty of the tough love and was given severance pay and a well deserved kick to the curb.

Now come the catchers who if they have been paying attention realize the front office isn’t joking about making players accountable and have been told bluntly that the only reason your two sorry ass’s are here is no one else wants you and we wish we could dump you off and sign a has been, performance enhancing broken down catcher who even in that state of decline is better than you two.

Now let’s see how Shrek/Schienderhandled this diss down.

 

 

 

 

I’ve been consumed by all the Rangers news this morning that I haven’t scratched the surface on the news out of St Lonesome but I am starting to think that Warlord Jerry spent the off season studying psychology  books as early in this camp of ’09 it seems it’s all about the mental prep work as much as the physical.

 

Just from the early dispatches, it looks as though J-Man feels since I have the same cast of characters that ended the season save for the two studs at the back end of the pen, there has to be a different way to motivate this group by going after their weak points (in case you haven’t heard, the Mets choked the last two years, just ask Cole Hamels he’ll tell you)

 

With the bullpen fortified with Putz and Rodriguez, the other big reason for the two season collapse has been the lack of situational hitting and not scoring runs late in the game. The Mets biggest scoring inning last year was the first and the lowest was the ninth, so Manuel has put an emphasis on hitting behind the runner and giving oneself up for the team. It’s clear that J-Man felt the team he took over was a selfish bunch and he wants that mind set erased and he came right out a pointed the finger at the guys he felt fit that category.

 

The player Manuel went after first was Jose Reyes, who it seems was more worried about stealing bases just to pad his stats and was the least grown up of the Big Three of Wright-Beltran-Reyes so saying it was time for Jose to take a little more responsibility around the team really meant time to grow up . So to see what Reyes was made of J-Man declares the Reyes could be the #3 hitter and we all waited for the fallout. Well, we’re still waiting as Reyes came in and said all the right things just like a grown up.

 

Manuel then went on to Gimp Castillo but took a different tact, as everyone associated with the team from the fans, front office, ushers, $iti Field construction workers all felt Castillo needed to shipped out. So Manuel went the opposite praising the second baseman for coming into camp 10 lbs lighter and with a better attitude that moved Manuel to say that Castillo looked like his old Marlins self and would be used in the top spot of the order and so far everyday Manuel finds a way to get a positive quote about Castillo into the Mets news of the day. That makes Gimp a happy camper

 

I guess after watching the baseball version of a gym rat in Daniel Murphy, Manuel knew that even with ordaining Murph as the left fielder the kid would still continue to work his ass off and Murphy’ response of I have to keep working like my job is on the line, proved that Manuel made the right read.

 

Now it’s on to Ryan Church who has the carrot out in front of him by J-Man who stated that Murph was a better hitter than Church and of course that pissed off Church big time. Exactly what Manuel wanted to do, Sometime guys get a bit complacent and need a little nudge but instead of a nudge Manuel gave Church a shove.

 

What coaching comes down to his knowing the personalities of your players as fans we get a bit to wrapped up in the in game strategy when in reality when the game starts there is only so much a coach or manager can do as you can’t hit, pitch or field for your guys. I like what Manuel is trying to do here as he is looking to motivate each player individually to get them to come together collectively as a total team. This game plan might just work.

 

The Warlord is in camp and dropped a bombshell that he is thinking of using Gimp Castillo in the 1 hole and dropping Jose Reyes to the 3 hole, in order to get Gimp’s bat going. I got to think Jose, Jose, Jose will be not be pleased with this.

 

Freddy Garcia had some bold words about gaining a spot in the starting rotation. If he’s as healthy as he says and can walk the walk his signing could be a huge coup for Omar and the Mets as a healthy and effective Chief is ace material.

 

 

 

So there was J-Man looking more CEO than Gangsta’ last night on Daily News Live when the first question asked of him was “Wadda bout Manny, would you have a problem managing him”? and the Mets Warlord pulled no punches:

 

“I don’t think so.  I don’t have a problem with people that produce in the form and fashion that Manny Ramirez produces.  We shouldn’t spend that much time in the locker room anyway, our job is to be on the field – and Manny Ramirez has proven that he is probably one of the best right-handed hitters of our generation.  To have a shot at managing him would be exciting for me.  I’ve had Albert Belle, Frank Thomas, tremendous right-handed hitters.  I would love to have the opportunity to watch Manny hit every day.”

 

I really feel that there are discussions between the Mets Gang of Four (Omar, John Rico, Tony B and Sandy Johnson) on the Manny situation going on, maybe it’s just wishful thinking or maybe it’s the Omar modus operendi of laying in the weeds to swoop in. As we approach February, the Dodgers offer of 2yr/$45 mil is still on the table with Manny/Boras still holding out for 4-5 yrs for $100-$125mil. No one is paying that for Manny. But why can’t the Mets stoke this negotiation with a 2yr/$50 with an attainable third year option? Worse case scenario, Manny/Boras turn it down Best case, they accept and we get Manny or they turn it down but you send the message to your fan base that you are willing to go the extra mile to sign an impact player like Manny.

 

Believe me it’s not like I want the Mets to throw money away . I wouldn’t even think of signing Bobby Abreu or Adam Dunn for anything more than a 1yr ML vet minimum same with Ollie Perez (3yr) and Ben Sheets (2 yr), I’d love to sign either guy but not at their price but Manny is a living breathing Hall of Fame player who has played on nothing but winning teams plus he brings a real swagger to the team and brings respect to the Mets which this team has lost in the last two season.

 

In part two of Mike Steffano’s interview with Joe Janish of Mets Today, Joe sums up the biggest problem with the disconnect between the Mets fans and management:

 

  If you could change just one thing about how the Mets franchise is run, what would it be?

Easy. I’d make a commitment to building the franchise for the long-term, emulating the Braves and the Twins. I’m not on board with the idea that New York fans don’t have the patience for rebuilding — that’s nonsense. YANKEE fans may not have patience, but the large majority of loyal Mets fans would be fine with struggling for a few years IF they saw that there was a plan in place, and there was commitment to the plan. We toughed it through the early 1980s, and were rewarded with some of the most exciting seasons in the team’s history from 1984 to 1990 — with teams built around a core of players that we as fans could easily root for, and felt more attached to because of continuity and because we felt we “watched them grow up”.

 

Under my watch, the long-term plan would start at the very bottom of the organization, with the scouts and the low levels of the minors — where the focus would be on instilling fundamentals and developing consistent execution in all phases of the game. Teenage phenoms would not be rushed through the system because they have a great bat or a live fastball — they’d have to develop their entire game in a ball before moving up to the next level. That’s where the current regime frustrates me — they say they’re committed to a “win now” mentality, but then they stop short of acquiring the final pieces and start talking about the farm system. A lot of mixed signals.

 

I agree 1,000 % with Joe. If the front office said they were committed to building with youth especially young pitching and a defense over offense no one would be happier than me. I would be singing the praises of Omar and the Skill Sets. But as Joe says, the Mets tell us they are a “Now” team so if you are a “Now” team then sign the two “Now” guys that are out there Manny and Ben Sheets.  If you’re building a team for the future then give Randy Wolf and Jon Garland 1 yr deals and let Jon Niese, and Bobby Parnell work on their craft in Buffalo. Whatever, the Mets need to decide which direction you want to go and stick with it.

 

Frankie Maniscalco is getting ready to launch a Fantasy Baseball League over at NYBD.

With President Obama looking to close the Guantanamo Bay camp maybe the government could keep it open for a little while longer and give Kirk Radamski, Brain McNamee, Jay McGwire and Greg Anderson permanent housing there.

 

Speaking of Radamski, Doc Gooden vehemently denies the accusation that Radamski was his personal Wizzanator. On a lighter note, it seems Gooden is still glowing from the reception he received from Mets fans on the Last Day of Shea:

 

    “I want to set the record straight,” Gooden said. “When I went back to Shea last year it really hit me how much the fans care for me, it still gives me goose bumps. I want to do the right thing for them and my family. I love the fans and I appreciate how much they care for me.”

   

Welcome back Doc.